Rabbi David Sapperstein once said that “to be a jew means to be involved…to speak out.”  Fighting for social justice is a fundamental part of Judaism; we are commanded to do so.  As an SAVP it is your responsibility to integrate social action into EVERYTHING your TYG does.  You must make your members aware of important issues and inspire them to independently take action and educate others even outside of NFTY and your TYG.  Make your TYG realize that you and your members can make a difference both in and out of NFTY.

Accomplishing the goals of social justice can be broken down into three A’s: Awareness, Action, and Advocacy.  As SAVP’s, we must educate others, do something with that knowledge to aid the short term problem, and create lasting change for the long term issue with legislation.  Here’s some more in depth information.

AWARENESS

• In order to educate others, you must know what is going on in the world around you.  Read the newspaper, keep yourself informed.
• Keep your members informed.
• Make sure that the issues you choose to focus on are relevant (you don’t have time to do everything)
• Make sure your resources and information are up to date.
• Present the information in such a way that everyone can relate; know the knowledge level of your participants and adjust accordingly.
  Remember the attention spans of your participants.  Teach your participants the information in such a way that they enjoy the learning.

ACTION

• Every TYG event should include DOING something with the knowledge you have (bring cans to an event, give profits from an event to an organization, clean up a park, etc.)
• Use organizations within your temple to help you accomplish your goals.
• Partner with other religious or secular organizations that are working toward a similar goal.
• Make sure everyone is involved
• No one should feel as though his/her work is inadequate; ensure your members that whatever it is they are doing will make a difference.

ADVOCACY

• Write letters to government officials about passing new bills or opposing destructive ones.
• Use the media: Write letters to editors of newspapers or magazines.
• Organize letter writing campaigns.
• Remember that government officials are elected and they want to be re-elected.  Government officials have said that it only takes 3 letters on one issue for them to take notice.
• If you do the research for your TYG members or you teach them about a particular issue, they will be much more willing to write a letter, do the tough part for them.

NOW THAT YOU KNOW THE THREE A’S, YOU CAN TIE EVERYTHING TOGETHER BY…

• Writing programs that combine all three A’s
• Keeping in close contact with your social action network.  We want to hear about whatever you do!
• Developing relationships with organizations in your area.
• Working with the adult leadership in your community
• Creating a social action bulletin board at your Temple to update the general public about volunteer opportunities or social action events.
• Always planning another way to incorporate social action
• Bringing your enthusiasm to the issues!